Massage device



1. R. MARSICO,

MASSAGE DEVICE.

APPLHIATION FILED FEB. 18, l9l6.

1 395,9 1.? a Patented June 3, 1919.

FI IQ.

JERARD B MARSICO, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MASSAGE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1919.

Application filed February 18, 1916. Serial No. 79,153.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JERARD R. MARsIoo, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Massage Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric massage devices of vibrators.

An object of the invention is to-provide a device of this character which will consist principally of an electro-magnet designed whereby to create a magnetic field of high intensity; directly associating an applicator with Zsaid electro-magnet, and combining with the electro-magnet, a peculiarly formed weighted armature or striker member whose actuations will set up rapid vibrations in the applicator with no loss of efliciency; and one in which the vibrating mechanism and the applicator will be synchronously operated,

Another object of the invention resides in the simplicity of construction, durability, lightness and compactness.

I aim to so construct and simplify a massage device or vibrator as to positively obviate the necessity of contrivances which impede or obstruct the perfection and general utility of a device of this character. I wish also to emphasize the co-arrangement of a peculiarly formed armature and a hollow core magnet in which either direct and hammer-like strokes may be imparted to an applicator or indirect pulsations or percussion oscillatory movements may be effectively imparted or. transmitted to an applicator. i

It is another object of the invention to construct motorless, but magnetically actuated massage devices or vibrators which may be satisfactorily run upon direct alternating and battery currents.

-I' also provide a construction of make and break mechanism which will be adjustable relatively of the armature or striker member to regulate the force of the blow transmitted to the applicator and to effect perfect synchronism between the applicator; and the striker member or armature and to take up wear, and satisfactorily compensate for any loss of efliciency arising through constant use of the structure.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the inven' tion is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangements of parts which will hereinafter be fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of the massage device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough with arts in full lines.

Fig. 3 is a slde view of a slightly modified form of power transmitting means for the applicator.

Fig. 4 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a section through one of the applicators. i

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing a slightly difi'eernt form of applicator. Fig. 7 is-a section through the magnet showing a modified form of power transmitting means for the applicator.

The invention consists of an electro-magnet (at) which includes a spool (a) of insulating material having a large central bore. Mounted in said'bore is a cylindrical core (6), which is also provided with a large central bore. This core is constructed of soft' iron or other magnetic material and the ends thereof are projected beyond the heads a?) and (a of the magnet and it is preferred that one end be provided vritir a relatively broad flange (a which will present a relatively large area to the striker member or weighted armature to be'hereinafter set forth. The other end of the core may be secured to the branch 1, of an angle plate or frame 2, the latter being provided also with a branch 3, which is disposed in parallel relation to the branch 1.

The armature which consists of a relatively long weight carried by the free terminal of a spring strip (0), is positioned adjacent to the electro-magnet (a), whereby to come into effective contact with the flange (a) of the soft iron core as the magnet is energized. The opposite terminal of the spring strip is connected to the frame 2 by .minal of the spring strip (0') and the head of the screw.

The make and break mechanism comprises a spring tongue (03) upon the spring strip (0 and as shown, said tongue is provided with a free portion (0? having a contact lug (d which is adapted to be engaged by a platinum contact surface (d upon the inner end of an adjusting screw (03*). Said screw may be operated at the convenience of the user so as to take up any ordinary wear in the parts and to also enable the user to cause synchronism in the action of the applicator and the striker member or armature.

The electro-magnet is mounted in a casing which can be of any well known construction. It preferably consists of sections 4: and 5, the latter having a flange 6, fitting over the former and secured thereto ,by adjusting screws 7. The section 4, has a passage 8, therein which receives the inner end of a tube 9. This tube is also extended through the frame 2 and secured thereto by a clamping nut or the equivalent thereof 10.

The tube extends through a lateral handle 11, and on reference to Fig. 2, it is observed that the tube is threaded at 12, to receive a clamping nut 13, whereby the handle is held' uponthe tube. The nut 13, carries a hook 1 1, by which the device may be suspended from any suitable well known support.

A two-wire cable (6) extends through the 7 tube 9, of the handle, one lead being secured at (e) to the branch 1, of the frame and the other lead (6 operatively connected with the magnet. The other terminal (6 of the magnet is connected with the armature spring (-0) as at (o In this manner,

proper electrical connection with the magnet is established so that when the current is on percussion or hammer-like strokes will be transmitted to armature weight or striker member (0). The cable (6) preferably includes a section (6 which may be connected with the main portion at (6) by any suitable well known fuse or condenser. The oppositeend of the section (e carries a plug (6 to be connected up within any well known socket or electric source: Any other suitable form of connection may be substituted for the plug (6).

In order that the strokes of the armature may be directly transmitted to an applicator, a separating plate 15, is secured by the screws 16, to the armature supporting frame 2, said plate being insulated from the casing by a fiber washer 17. The plate 15, carries a depending boss 18 whose shank extends through a passage 19, in the section 4, of the casing; This boss detachably receives a threaded stud 20, on a cup shaped applicator 21.

It is very often desirable to transmit both direct hammer-like strokes to an applicator and oscillatory strokes and it is preferred that the branch 3, of the frame 2, be provided with cars 22, between which a rocker 23, is pivoted as at 2 1. Also pivoted to the rocker at 25', is one end of a link 26 whose other end has its inner face 27 rounded and disposed against one side of the striker member or armature (0) and adapted to rock thereon. A screw 28, freely passes through the link and into the weight or striker (a), so that as the armature is moved under the usual action of the magnet, the

movements will in turn, be transmitted to the rocker 23. The shank of the latter projects through an elongated passage or slot 19 in the casing, and carries at its outer end a second applicator 29.

The applicator 21 may be formed of rubber or any other suitable well known material and cupped or shaped as specifically illustrated in Fig. 5 or many usual departures may be made in such construction to suit the purpose. For instance, an applicator such as that shown at 31, in Fig. 6, may be used, the same consisting of a rubber body having a series of somewhat attenuated teeth 32. These different applicators are interchangeably connected with the magnet by the mentioned stud 20.

In lieu of operating the applicator as described in the foregoing, the armature (0) may be associated with a longitudinally movable rod 33, which extends through the soft iron core. This rod is slidable through a passage 34:, in the casing section 35, and externally of said casing section, the rod is provided with a boss 36, to which an applicator 37, be connected. The rod carries a flange 38, which coacts with the casing section 35, to limit themovement of the rod in one direction.

In this formofthe invention all of the essential parts of the magnet are the same as that .described in the preferred embodiproperly affected by movements of the weight (10).

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. The

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frame or plate 2 and thence in turn to the applicator. The device is so designed that the axial impingement of the striker member against the magnet will minimize the force of its blow against the magnet and in practice, it is found that the same is productive of very beneficial results. The adjusting screw (d may be regulated at the will or option of the user so that the power of the stroke may be amplified or lessened. The general simplicity of construction of the device is'a feature of importance, as well as its ease of manipulation and the general assemblage of the parts whereby they are accessi'ble at the requisite time.

It may also be well to bear in mind the arrangement of arts so that the machine, in its entirety will bev compact and capable of being easily handled while in use and the specific location of the electro-magnet in line with the handle and between the two applicators lends very nicely toward properly balancing the parts which is Valuable for the purpose of causing the applicator to take uniformly to the affected parts of either body during treatment? In the use of this device the operator grasps the handle, turns on the current, and brings either applicator against that portion of the anatomy which it is desired to massage. If rather gentle treatment is wanted, he uses theupper applicator 29 which has an oscillatory movement in imitation of rubbing; if a more vigorous treat: ment is desired, he uses the lower applicator 21 which is actuated by the hammer-like strokes of the armature C on the core of the magnet, Whether it be the tubular core or the rod 33 shown in Fig. 7 If both a rubbing and a pounding action on the affected part is desired the operator applies the applicator 29 to the patient and presses the other applicator against some heavy and fixedobject, such as the bedstead or the wall; and the result is that'the blows of the vibrating armature are felt by the patient as well as the massage produced by the rubbing contact of the applicator 29 with his flesh or person. Thus it will be seen-that in this instrument the applicators may be used selectively or jointly as occasion may .demand, and if applicators having various shapes of their active faces are employed as suggested above, the instrument is thereby given a wide range of possibilities.

The devlce as designed herein is found in practice to possess a high degree of utility.

and its simplicity of construction readily enables any unskilled operator to immediately obtain'complete and satisfactory working results.

While I have shown and described one principal embodiment of my invention, by way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to all the precise details of construction herein set forth, as modifications, variations or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scopeof the appended claims I claim 1. In a massage instrument, the combination with a casing having a passage, a U- shaped frame within the casing, and a handle whose inner end extends into'the casing and is connected with the frame to hold these parts in spaced relation; of an electromagnet carried by one branch of the frame, an armature and a make-and-break mechanism carried by the other branch thereof, an applicator exterior of the casing and vibrated by the movements of said armature and a support connected with one branch of the frame with its shank projecting through the passage in the casing and connected with the applicator.

-2. In a massage instrument, the combination with a hollow casing having an opening in its wall, a frame within the casing, a magnet carried byone side of the frame, an armature carried by the other sideof the frame, a make-and-break mechanism, and wires leading to said mechanism and magnet; of an applicator, and a shank thereon projecting through said opening in the casingand pivotally connected with the frame and with the armature.

3. In a massage instrument, the combination with a hollow casing having openings its opposite sides, a frame within the cas-' of one is rigidly connected with that side of the frame carrying the magnet andvhas its shank projecting through one opening in the casmg and the other is pivotally con nected with the other side of the frame and with the armature and has its shank projecting through the opposite opening in the easing.

4. In a massage instrument, the combination with a frame, a magnet carried thereby, and an armature supported by the frame and vibrated by the magnet; of a rocker pivoted at one end to the frame, an applicator supported by the shank of the rocker, and a link pivotally connecting the other end of e eonel? 5. In a massage instrument, the eomb'maone side of the armature, and a sorew-pass- 10 tion with a frame, a magnet carried thereby, ing loosely through this end of the link and and an armature supported by the frame and into the armature, substantially as described. vibrated by the magnet; of a rocker pivoted In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 5 at one end to the frame, an applicator supin presence "of two witnesses.

ported by the shank of the rocker,,a link JERARD R. MARSICO. having one end pivotally connected to the Witnesses: other end of the rocker and its other end JOHN CALIGIUN,

provided With a rounded face resting against ANNA V. DOYLE. 

